The New Giant Gecko Series 1 is Here!

We have just launched our next-generation version of the Giant Gecko MCU, the EFM32GG11. It follows in the footsteps of the original Giant Gecko, by providing a wide range of functionality and high level of performance in a small and extremely energy efficient package. It brings new functionality such as CAN, SDIO, Quad-SPI and Ethernet to the family, as well as all the functionality of the original Giant Gecko, including Segment LCD, backup mode, USB and TFT controller. The MCU has up to 2 MB flash and 512 kB RAM, and runs up to 72 MHz, with current consumption as low as 77 uA/MHz and 1.6 uA in EM2.

The Micrium OS kernel will be provided for free to help jumpstart projects on the EFM32GG11. Flexible paid license options are available for advanced drivers and stacks such as Ethernet and SDIO, providing a robust production-ready solution.

Note that this is an ‘Engineering Status’ launch. Kits and limited numbers of ICs will be available starting today, with production scheduled to start in Q1 of 2018.

To learn more about the new EFM32 Giant Gecko Series 1, check out the links below:

Re: The New Giant Gecko Series 1 is Here!

Hoping you get a move on filling out the Series 1 range myself! This one helps a lot but its also no more than a couple more very rough grained configuration options for now. The series is begging for more memory/package/price configurations. We are engineers dammit. Must... optimize... mcu... selection

Re: The New Giant Gecko Series 1 is Here!

So Ethernet is meant to be used in Micrium OS, right? Will there be a software stack to enable Ethernet in regular projects without an OS?

Software support for Ethernet is currently only provided through Micrium OS. There are multiple reasons for this: By providing it with Micrium OS we can make sure the Ethernet stack will work well with the rest of the system, even if the rest of the system is complex and uses multiple other peripherals, such as USB or SDIO. This ultimately makes it easier to build a robust application which will not fail in the field under load or when hit with special situations.

We also believe most applications built on the EFM32GG11 will be based on an RTOS, in order to help manage complexity

Re: The New Giant Gecko Series 1 is Here!

I appreciate that your priority with Series 1 is going to be towards solutions that have less overlap with Series 0, and that I can't expect too much from a relatively new series. But for those of us who want minor features that only exist on Series 1, the range looks awfully rough at this stage.

My major issues are these:

- Lack of any mid or low price point solutions in a non BGA package above 48 pins at this point. I think the limited package options make a lot less sense on Pearl/Jade than they do on the equivalent EFR SoC's when you consider the external RF transceiver case and Pearl/Jade's NC pins. I think QFN64 is sorely missed on Pearl/Jade, and if that isn't going to come then I guess what I'm hoping for is that this new GG11 series gets variants with some of the high end peripherals cut out and number of low end peripherals reduced along with significantly reduced memory configurations, so the low end QFN64 variant reaches a fair way down into the mid range price bracket.

- Lack of a budget oriented alternative to xG1 given that xG1 carries unique issues. The xG13 or the half-RAM xG12 that both exist in the SoC range would go a significant way to resolving this.

Re: The New Giant Gecko Series 1 is Here!

Your requests make sense. We are in fact working on broadening the offering as we speak. Look for more information towards the end of the year. Note that the additions we will be making will be very compatible with the GG11 we just launched, so GG11 is a very good starting point.

Re: The New Giant Gecko Series 1 is Here!

The Network stack provided through Micrium OS is not free. In order to provide the level of quality and support that is required for it, it does come at a cost. There are currently no plans to support LwIP on Micrium OS. The hardware would be capable of it, but we have decided to focus our efforts on delivering one good solution vs delivering multiple half-baked solutions.

The Micrium OS Kernel is provided as source, and is free to use for Silicon Labs MCUs and Wireless MCUs.

Re: The New Giant Gecko Series 1 is Here!

So there is no option to get Ethernet running without stack that needs a license. Then where can I find all the prices for licensed stacks (at least modbus and ethernet)? I'm curious how it will compete with ST and freeRTOS..

Why there is almost no information about all the licenses and policy how they are applied?

Re: The New Giant Gecko Series 1 is Here!

Good point. If Ethernet is only usable through Micrium, I would expect TCP/IP stack to be free as well, otherwise we can not use part of the hardware inside the new MCU.

Can you explain your use-case to me? Are you looking at using the this for a commercial product where you need Ethernet, TCP/IP etc?

Yes, it is intended as a commercial product, which collects data from large sensor network and sends it to remote server using REST calls. Built in web server would also be necessary to allow for status monitoring and configuration.

We now have to decide on the chipset to use, and GG11 in conjunction with Micrium OS seems just what we need apart from it being an EFM part not EZR. We could use a Sub-Ghz radio in the same package as well. But given, that there is not much information on pricing of Micrium stacks and modules, it is hard to make GG11 as our first choice right now.

Re: The New Giant Gecko Series 1 is Here!

Prices for these types of components are typically not published online, because they depend on what you need, and the use-case. I would suggest you talk with your Silicon Labs sales rep, or go to the following link to get more information on pricing: https://www.silabs.com/buysample/pages/contact-sales.aspx